We’d suggest that it’s unlikely a similar proportion of the new vehicles on those same lots were out of gas.

The club’s volunteer 300 secret shoppers, who visited dealers across the country, found many salespeople weren’t very knowledgeable about electric cars.

As it turned out, the single factor that differentiates dealers that sell substantial numbers of electric cars from those that don’t is having a dedicated salesperson who focuses solely on plug-in hybrid and battery-electric vehicles.

Tesla Store Los Angeles [photo: Misha Bruk / MBH Architects]

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That’s most common in California, where up to half the plug-in sales in the U.S. take place. But it’s getting more common in other regions too.

Part of the problem with electric cars at franchised dealers is that often a dealership will only have one or two, which makes it easier to overlook them until a customer specifically asks.

In its report, the environmental advocacy group recommended that carmakers provide larger volumes of electric cars to dealers at more attractive prices—and put them in more states than simply California.